Pressure in a fluid
I can explain the causes of pressure in a fluid.
Pressure in a fluid
I can explain the causes of pressure in a fluid.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The particles in liquids and gases move very quickly and randomly in every direction; they are both fluids.
- Particles in liquids are very close together; the gaps between particles in gases are much larger than the particles.
- The pressure at any point in a fluid is the same size in every direction.
- The particles in a fluid exert pressure on a surface by colliding with it.
- Pressure is calculated using the equation: density = force ÷ surface area.
Keywords
Atom - the building block of matter; even small pieces of matter have trillions of atoms
Particle - a term used to describe atoms or molecules which make up matter
Fluid - a liquid or a gas; fluids can flow as the particles can move around each other
Pressure - caused by a force acting over an area on a surface; it can be calculated using: pressure = force ÷ area
Common misconception
The pressure at a particular depth depends on the shape of the container the liquid is in.
Demonstrate different shaped containers with the same depth of water in each and an identical shaped hole 1 cm above the base of each. Identical sized jets of water should shoot out of each hole as the pressure at each hole is (initially) the same.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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